Tuesday, December 11th, 2012
Central Park East entrance - 7:00am

Good morning!  It started out pretty nasty and quickly perked up into a pretty morning.  It was raining an awkward amount.  When I walked out the door, I contemplated cutting it short the entire way to the Park.  It was raining hard enough to be obnoxious and cold, but still not that hard.  Since I think both my doggies and I need the morning walk, I just kept moving forward.  I was rewarded by the end of the walk by some very pretty clouds and sky peeking out.  I also now have 2 very wet and very dirty dogs. 

I was thinking about my dogs this morning on our walk.  I was thinking about how my dogs make me a better, more accountable person.  Here are the reasons why.

I believe that to give your dog a good life they need these things:

1.  Leadership, boundaries, and expectations
2.  Discipline
3.  Routine
4.  Affection
5.  Time
6.  Exercise
7.  Love*

In order for me to live a good life I need some things, too:

1.  Leadership, boundaries, and expectations
2.  Discipline
3.  Routine
4.  Affection
5.  Time
6.  Exercise
7.  Love*

*Love...that's a special one.  We should talk about it more.  I don't think love needs to be unconditional.  There are lots of conditions on my love.  It's hard to get.  I wouldn't love my dogs if they attacked me.  In that same vein, why does everyone say a dog has unconditional love for you?  That's not entirely true.   Dogs have unconditional dependence on you - there is a big difference.  They probably love you if you're kind to them, but who knows, really.  Love and dependence can often be confusing.  This is partly because our culture hangs up the words need and love on the same coat-rack.  Your needs belong to you alone.  Love is something that is shared with another individual being upon careful consideration and trust.  That individual being (dog, cat, horse, human, guinea pig, rabbit) is just another being and is not responsible for fulfilling your needs - only you can do that. 

For example,  I love Brian, but I don't need Brian (sorry Brian, but you already knew that).  My life would be just as satisfying and happy if I had never met him.  Expecting Brian to fulfill my needs is as silly as expecting my dog to fulfill my needs.  It is dependence, not love. 

One thing that's great about a dog is that if you look again at the lists, you quickly realize that by working to fulfill an animal's needs, you fulfill your own. They force you to take better care of yourself and your needs.  It's a great, healthy relationship - probably the healthiest one you could hope to get from anyone or anything :) 

Carpe diem,

J